Fareham And Gosport: £92m Flood Risk

People are being asked to have their say on plans for major coastal flood defence work in Fareham and Gosport.

Today the Eastern Solent Coastal Partnership (ESCP), on behalf of Fareham and Gosport Borough Council, begin consulting residents on a Coastal Management Strategy for the Fareham and Gosport coastline.

This Strategy sets out the preferred coastal management approaches to help reduce the risk of coastal flooding and erosion to people and properties in the local area over the next 100 years. It covers the coastline from Burridge, on the east bank of the River Hamble, through to Portchester and includes the two major towns of Fareham and Gosport.

Currently £92m worth of residential and commercial properties are at risk of flooding from a significant flood event. This increases to £569m over the next 100 years. The Strategy is therefore a key project for the area and we would like to hear the views of residents and business on the Strategy proposals.

The Strategy will be entering a 3 month period of public consultation starting today (1 September). During this time there will be the opportunity for the public to share their views on the future of the local coastline.

Four public consultation events will be taking place across the Strategy region, where the proposed management options for each area will be showcased.

Alternatively if the public cannot attend one of these events they can visit the consultation webpage at www.escp.org.uk and share their views via the online survey.

Cllr Keith Evans, the Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Development at Fareham Borough Council said:

"This Strategy indicates the risks that coastal flooding and erosion pose to the Fareham Borough over the next 100 years. The consultation provides a real opportunity for residents to provide comment on the different defense options for our stretch of coastline. We hope to see as many people as possible at the public exhibitions."

"The strategy has identified several priority flood defence schemes for the Gosport area where communities are at risk of serious flooding both now and in the future. With this evidence we can now make the case for central government funding to help build the defences and reduce these risks."

For more information about the River Hamble to Portchester Coastal Flood and Erosion Risk Management Strategy visit www.escp.org.uk/strategy